Vartaman Sandarbh Me Shakahar Ki Upadeyata

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Vartaman Sandarbh me Shakahar ki Upadeyata" by Kiran Siroliya:

Book Title: Vartaman Sandarbh me Shakahar ki Upadeyata (The Utility of Vegetarianism in the Present Context) Author: Kiran Siroliya Publisher: Z_Mahasati_Dway_Smruti_Granth_012025.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/211894/1

This article, "The Utility of Vegetarianism in the Present Context," by Mrs. Kiran Siroliya, strongly advocates for vegetarianism, emphasizing its profound connection to one's personality, behavior, and overall well-being, both individually and societally.

The author begins by highlighting the well-known adage, "As you eat, so your mind becomes," and its English equivalent, "You are what you eat." These sayings underscore the direct correlation between one's diet and the formation of their personality and disposition. The type of food consumed influences whether one leads a simple, sattvic (pure) life, or develops tamasic (impure) tendencies leading to anger and cruel behavior.

The article defines "niramish ahar" (vegetarian diet) not merely as abstaining from meat, but as a way of life rooted in compassion and non-violence. True vegetarianism extends to having a friendly disposition, avoiding exploitation, and speaking with kindness. Engaging in harmful practices like profiteering or exploitation while claiming to be vegetarian is seen as hypocrisy.

At its core, vegetarianism is presented as a philosophy of "maitri bhav" (friendship). It is a lifestyle that encourages love for all creatures and refraining from causing them harm through thoughts, words, or actions. This practice not only nourishes the body but also expands the mind and heart, making them generous and pure. The author quotes Vinoba Bhave, suggesting that vegetarianism is India's greatest gift to the world, and its importance will become increasingly evident as human civilization progresses.

Humans are described as rational beings whose thoughts on violence, non-violence, compassion, and hatred influence the balance of nature. Wise individuals have established restrictions and regulations to guide humans towards becoming divine rather than bestial, and diet plays a crucial role in this process.

The article categorizes human diets into: grain-based, fruit and vegetable-based, dairy, fruit, and vegetable-based, egg, dairy, fruit, and vegetable-based, and meat-based. Pure vegetarianism includes grain-based and fruit-vegetable-based diets. Dairy is considered vegetarian but can be viewed as slightly tamasic due to its origin from a living being. Eggs and meat are unequivocally classified as meat-based, and calling eggs vegetarian is deemed a misleading propaganda.

The article notes a global trend of increasing vegetarianism, particularly in Western countries like America, England, Japan, and Europe, where it is recognized by intellectuals as a more progressive and scientific lifestyle. It points out that many great thinkers like Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare, Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Annie Besant, and Rousseau were vegetarians. Ironically, India, traditionally a land of non-violence and vegetarianism, is seeing a rise in egg and meat consumption, often disguised as a necessity for pension or sustenance. This is despite scientific evidence proving the harmful effects of meat and the numerous health benefits of vegetarianism, including longevity. The author emphasizes that no religion prioritizes meat-eating, and the essence of all religions lies in non-violence.

Meat consumption is identified as a severely violent act, hence condemned by saints, spiritual leaders, and great personalities throughout history. The article cites various religious and philosophical texts:

• Manusmriti: States that those who advise killing, sell, cook, serve, or eat meat are all great sinners.
• Guru Nanak Dev: Declared that even eating food prepared by meat-eaters is a grave sin.
• Lord Buddha: Advised against harming any living being and proclaimed vegetarian food as the best.
• Mahatma Gandhi: Stated that only vegetarianism creates healthy blood within us.
• The Quran: Mentions that killing animals and destroying agriculture spreads corruption, which Allah dislikes.

The article addresses the misconception that eggs and meat are rich in protein. It presents statistics showing that paneer (Indian cheese) has significantly more protein (24g per 100g) than eggs (13g per 100g), and peanuts even more (31g per 100g). Dairy products also offer higher protein content. Regarding calories, lentils, peanuts, and dairy products provide more calories per 100g than eggs or chicken.

The author further argues that eggs contain "poison" rather than just protein. Scientific tests have revealed up to 30% DDT in eggs after 18 months of testing, and approximately 4 grains of cholesterol per egg. This high cholesterol content contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. Medical experts believe vegetarian foods contain cancer-preventing elements, and cancers of the intestines and breasts are more common among meat-eaters. Vegetarians tend to have calmer temperaments, while meat-eaters are more easily agitated. Heart disease is also more prevalent in meat-eaters. Vegetarianism is presented as a path to a longer life.

The article supports the health benefits of vegetarianism with examples of strong vegetarian animals like the rhinoceros, elephant, horse, and camel.

From a socio-economic perspective, the article highlights that meat-eaters require six times more land than vegetarians. Feeding livestock for meat production utilizes vast tracts of land that could otherwise be used for growing food. It is through agriculture and the cultivation of fruits and flowers that food security can be achieved, making vegetarianism a social and economic necessity.

From a health science perspective, the human body is not designed for meat consumption, and vegetarian food is easier to digest. The article concludes by connecting vegetarianism to world peace. It argues that the rising tide of violence and terrorism can be curbed by fostering a nature of non-violence and vegetarianism in humans. Vegetarianism is based on the philosophy of peaceful living. As the Western world increasingly embraces vegetarianism, the author urges readers to adopt it as a part of their lives, resolve to be compassionate towards innocent creatures, and contribute to realizing the dream of world peace.